Q: Our dog itches all the time, day and night. He seems fine
otherwise, but he’s constantly biting at his backside and licking
his feet. He doesn’t have any fleas, we checked him several times.
But his skin feels funny to us and he smells bad. What causes this,
is it a skin disease?
Q: Our dog itches all the time, day and night. He seems fine otherwise, but he’s constantly biting at his backside and licking his feet. He doesn’t have any fleas, we checked him several times. But his skin feels funny to us and he smells bad. What causes this, is it a skin disease?
A: We get several inquiries each week from people whose dog sounds just like yours. … This is a common problem. The rancid smell and the oily or sticky feel to his coat is seborrhea, a condition caused by excessive secretions of the sebum (oil) glands in his skin. These glands are stimulated whenever the skin is inflamed. Anything from a bacterial infection to skin mites (causing mange) to allergies can cause such an inflammatory response.
Seborrhea also can result from some nutritional deficiencies or a few metabolic disorders as well. So it is impossible to identify the source of your dog’s problem from what you have described.
But far and above, the most common cause of seborrhea is flea allergy. Many pet owners assume fleas are not at fault because they don’t see any of these blood-sucking pests on their pet. But fleas don’t usually stay for long on a dog or cat’s skin. They jump off their victim after they have had their blood meal, and they go somewhere quiet in the house or in the yard. There, they carry out the rest of their life cycle. One female can lay thousands of eggs, and the flea population around a home can literally explode in just a few days.
Besides this, some dogs are exquisitely allergic to flea bites. If your pooch is this sensitive, it may take only one or two bites to make him itch and develop that nasty seborrhea response. And you may never see those fleas that bite him, because they may have quickly left the scene of the crime. But if you control those fleas (ie. eliminate them from your environment), your pet’s skin will be healthier.
Your veterinarian can help you determine if fleas are responsible or if your pooch has another problem. All it takes is an exam, some questions and perhaps a few tests. Flea control is relatively easy now with the effective prescription medications available.
If the problem is caused by something other than fleas, there are many simple ways to make him comfortable again. And what a great gift it would be for your dog to get rid of his skin problems. Without that itch, life could be good for him again.
Q: Our cat has had diarrhea for the past week. It is really foul smelling and seems to bother her when she goes to the litter box. I think it even hurts her when she eliminates. What causes this? Should we take her to the vet?
A: A cat with chronic diarrhea often times has a common problem: intestinal parasites. There are many potential culprits, including roundworms and protozoan parasites like Giardia and Coccidia. And it is surprising how many otherwise healthy-looking cats (and dogs) suffer from these intestinal parasites.
If your kitty is feeling well despite having this nasty diarrhea, you only need to take in a small, fresh stool sample (some feces) to your vet’s office. They will check it under a microscope for parasites. If any are found or identified, the vet will prescribe the proper medication for treatment to get rid of those bugs.
On the other hand, if your cat is feeling a little under-the-weather, there may be more to this problem than just an intestinal upset. Diarrhea can be a symptom of many different problems, including liver disease, inflammatory bowel disease or some infections. If your cat is just not herself (she feels a little weak or “drained”), a visit to the vet might be in order.
Pete Keesling is a veterinarian at San Martin Veterinary Hospital and co-hosts Petpourri, a weekly show about pet health on KTEH in San Jose and a bi-weekly column for The Times. If you have any questions about pet care, please mail them to The Times, Attn: Vets, 30 E. Third St., Morgan Hill, CA 95037.
